Method and apparatus for packaging block-shaped commodities



y 1970 H. KOCHALSKI 3,511,014

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING BLOCK-SHAPED COMMODITIES Filed May18, 1967 14a 14 H 46 749 0 5 147 15a 4 60 64 60 66 m Qt: @mF ficdj IN VE N TOR.

United States Patent 01 lice 3,511,014 Patented May 12, 1970 US. Cl.53-24 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Packaging apparatus forblocks of arrayed cigarettes or like rod-shaped articles includes a pairof transporting conveyors having endless belts whose inner stringersdefine an elongated channel for U-shaped blanks which are obtained bydraping sheets of wrapping material around the front, top and bottomsides of successive blocks prior to or during entry into the channel.The inner stringers engage the top and bottom panels of blanks byfriction and advance them through the channel past a series of tucking,folding adhesive-applying, sealing and pressing units which arelaterally adjacent to the channel. The speed at which the blanks enterthe channel exceeds the speed of the stringers and such stringersconsist of foraminous material so that the blanks can be attractedthereto by suction. The tucking units may comprise fixed cams ortravelling belts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a methodand apparatus for packing block-shaped commodities, particularly forpackaging blocks of arrayed non-filter or filter cigarettes or othertobacco-containing rod-shaped articles in sheet-like wrappers to convertsuch wrappers into openended box-shaped envelopes.

Packaging machines for cigarettes normally comprise a transportingconveyor which advances hollow mandrels or like receptacles for blocksof cigarettes past a location where the sheets are fed into the path ofsuccessive mandrels to 'be draped therearound and to thereupon sharefurther movement of mandrels past a series of tucking, folding, sealing,heating and other units. A serious drawback of such machines is that themandrels will engage and entrain the sheets irrespective of whether ornot they contain blocks of properly arrayed cigarettes. In the absenceof blocks, the sheets will contaminate the machine and will requirelengthy interruptions in the operation.

It is also known to advance blocks of cigarettes by means of motiontransmitting strips, walls or paddles extending outwardly from anendless transporting conveyor which moves past one or more magazines sothat its paddles can entrain successive blocks toward and intoengagement with sheets which are to be converted into envelopes. Theoutput of such machines is rather low, mainly because the paddles cannotengage the blocks at a speed which exceeds a rather low limit;otherwise, the paddles will subject the cigarettes to excessivedeformation which can result in bursting of cigarette paper, excessiveloss of tobacco particles at the ends, misalignment of cigarettes whichform the blocks, and other undesirable consequences. Reference may behad, for example, to German Pat. No. 803,523 to Richter.

Furthermore, presently known packaging machines often subject the blocksto uneven deforming stresses so that the sides of the envelopesultimately assume a trapeziform, rather than a truly rectangular shape.This interferes with proper grouping of cigarette packs in cartons anddetracts from the appearance and sales appeal of the packs. Suchproblems are quite serious in packaging of filter cigarettes wherein thediameter of the filter tip normally exceeds the diameter of the tobaccorod.

It is an important object of my invention to provide a novel andimproved method of engaging and advancing blocks of arrayed cigarettesor like commodities and sheet-like blanks past a series of processinglocations at which the blanks are converted into open-ended boxshapedenvelopes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method according towhich the blocks and the blanks can be fed and advanced past a series ofprocessing locations at a speed which is considerably higher than thespeed of blocks and blanks in presently known packaging machines.

- A further object of the instant invention is to provide a methodaccording to which the blanks can be converted into parallelepipedenvelopes and wherein such conversion of blanks can be completed in asmall area.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus whichcan be utilized in the practice of my method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One feature of my invention resides in theprovision of an improved method of applying sheets or wrappers aroundparallelepiped arrays of cigarettes or similar block-shaped commoditieswherein the commodities are moved seriatim against successive sheets toconvert such sheets into U-shaped blanks which are draped around andproject laterally and rearwardly beyond the front, top and bottom sidesor faces of the respective commodities prior to travel through apackaging station and past a series of successive processing locationswhere the projecting portions of the blanks are tucked, folded, pressed,coated with adhesive, sealed and heated to form openended box-shapedenvelopes each of which conceals all but one side or face of therespective commodity. The improvement comprises the steps offrictionally engaging the blanks at two opposite sides of the respectivecommodities and transporting the thus engaged blanks through thepackaging station. Such frictional engagement is preferably effectedbetween the top and bottom panels of successive blanks on the one handand a pair of surfaces travelling at the same speed and in the samedirection to advance the blanks and the respective commodities past theprocessing locations. It is preferred to introduce the blanks into thepackaging station at a speed which exceeds the speed of the surfaces andthe blanks may be attracted to such surfaces by suction. The surfacespreferably converge in a direction away from the inlet of the packagingstation so that the commodities are subjected to progressivelyincreasing compression during travel past the processing locations. Themeans for tucking such portions of blanks which extend laterally beyondthe front sides or faces of the respective commodities may include apair of stationary cams or a pair of endless belts whose inner stringersengage the blanks and are driven at the speed of the aforementionedsurfaces.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved packaging apparatus itself, however, both as to itsconstruction and its mode of operation, together with additionalfeatures and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal ofthe following detailed description of certain specific embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevationalview of a packaging apparatus which embodies one form of the presentinvention, the conveyor which supplies the commodities being shown insection;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the packaging apparatus with the feeder forsheets and certain other parts omitted;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a second packaging apparatus, withthe supply conveyor for commodities shown in section;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the second apparatus, with certain partsomitted; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing in side elevation the manner in which thesheets are draped, tucked, folded and sealed around a series ofblock-shaped commodities to form open-ended box-shaped envelopes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2and 5, there is shown a first packaging apparatus for parallelepipedblocks 4 of non-filter cigarettes, filter cigarettes or analogousrodshaped articles. This packaging apparatus comprises a supply conveyor2 which travels stepwise in a direction at right angles to the plane ofFIG .1 and is provided with a series of open-ended pockets or cells 3each of which accommodates a block 4 of twenty cigarettes each in thecustomary array, i.e., two outer layers or rows of seven cigarettes eachand a median layer or row of six cigarettes which are staggered sidewayswith reference to the cigarettes of the outer layers. The conveyor 2 isdriven at regular intervals to place successive blocks 4 into registrywith the inlet of a channel 70 extending through a packaging or wrappingstation 5. A fixed mouthpiece 26 which defines a passage for one block 4at a time is located directly in front of the inlet. During travelthrough the passage defined by the mouthpiece 26, the cigarettes of theblock 4 advance axially or lengthwise and are pushed by a suitabletransfer member or plunger 22 receiving motion from an eccentric drive24 which is synchronized with the drive for the conveyor 2. Thepackaging apparatus further comprises a feeder 6 which serves to supplyrectangular sheets or wrappers 10 into the path of successive blocks 4in the region between the mouthpiece 26 and the conveyor 2. The feeder 6comprises a magazine or source 8 which accommodates a stack of sheets10, a rotary suction head 12 which is operative to withdraw thelowermost sheet from the magazine 8, a rotary gripper 16 which engagesthe withdrawn sheet and feeds it into the nip between two advancingrolls 18 which advance the sheet vertically downwardly along a suitableguide 20. The sheets 10 may consist of cardboard or paper one side ofwhich is coated with aluminum foil or tin foil. The claws of the gripper16 are operated by a fixed cam 14. The construction of the feeder 6 issimilar to that of feeders for paper sheets which are utilized inbookbinding machines.

When the plunger 22 performs a working stroke, it displaces a block 4from the registering cell 3 and moves the front side or face of theblock against a median portion of that sheet 10 which is held in theguide so that the sheet is draped around the front, top and bottom sidesor faces of the block and moves therewith through the mouthpiece 26 toenter the packaging station 5. The thus draped sheet is converted into aU- shaped blank 10' (see FIG. 5) which extends laterally and rearwardlybeyond the front, top and bottom sides or faces of the respective block4.

The packaging station 5 accommodates a transporting conveyor includingtwo endless friction belts 28, 30 whose slightly convergent lower andupper stringers define between themselves the aforementioned channel 70in which the blocks 4 and blanks 10' advance past tucking, folding andsealing units provided at a series of processing locations to convertthe blanks into openended box-shaped envelopes 10". Each of the twofriction belts is trained around a driven roller or pulley 32 and anidler roller or pulley 34. The rollers 34 are driven continuously by aprime mover 34a which is shown in FIG. 2. The arrangement is preferablysuch that the speed of the blank-engaging surfaces on the stringers ofthe belts 28, 30 is somewhat less than the speed of the plunger 22 whenthe latter performs a working stroke and transfers a block 4 from theregistering cell 3 into the inlet of the channel 70 between the belts28, 30. The belts 28, 30 are foraminous and prefereably consist of wovennatural, metallic or synthetic plastic filaments. The packaging station5 further accommodates two suction chambers 36 which are disposedbetween the upper and lower stringers of the belts 28, 30 to drawcurrents of air through the adjoining lower and upper stringers. Theslots in the bottom wall of the upper suction chamber 36 are shown at38. Such slots 38 preferably extend in parallelism with the direction oftravel of the belts. The upper wall of the lower suction chamber 36 isformed with similar slots. The suction chambers 36 also serve as backsupports for the adjoining blank-engaging substantially horizontalstringers of the belts 28, 30 so that the stringers cannot yieldupwardly and downwardly. Each suction chamber 36 is connected with asuction pipe 40, and both suction pipes are connected to a fan 42 oranother suitable suction generating device.

The aforementioned tucking, holding and sealing units of the packagingapparatus are provided at processing 10- cations which are adjacent tothe sides of the channel 70 between the belts 28, 30. These unitsinclude a pair of fixed cam-like tucking units 44 which are locateddownstream of the mouthpiece 26 and serve totuck in small pieces 60 ofblanks 10' which extend laterally beyond the front faces of the blocks4. The tucking units 44 are followed by two lower folding units 46 whichalso resemble stationary cams and serve to fold the lower flaps 62 whichextend laterally beyond the bottom faces of the blocks 4, such lowerflaps 62 being folded through degrees to abut against the lateral sidesof the respective block. The folding units 46 are followed by twopasters 48- which include roller-shaped applicators 49 serving to coatthe underside 64 of upper flaps 66 (such upper flaps extend laterallybeyond the top face of the block 4), and the pasters 48 are followed bytwo upper folding units 50 which are similar to the folding units 46 andserve to fold the adhesive-coated upper flaps 66 downwardly so that suchupper flaps overlie the low flaps 62 and adhere thereto during travelpast two pressing units 52 which bear against the outer sides of foldedupper flaps 66 to expel moisture from the adhesive and to insure thatthe upper flaps 66 continue to adhere to the lower flaps 62. Eachpressing unit 52 is preferably constituted by an electric heater. Theconductors which connect the pressing units 52 with a suitable source ofelectrical energy are shown at 54 and 56. The units 52 also perform anironing action and insure the formation of sharp creases between theflaps and the adjoining top and bottom panels of the blanks.

An endless conveyor belt 58 receives semifinished packs 4' from thechannel 70 between the belts 28, 30 and advances such packs to furtherprocessing stations. Each semifinished pack 4' comprises a partiallycompleted boxshaped envelope 10" wherein portions of the sheet materialextend all around beyond the rear side or face of the respective block.In other words, each pack 4' which travels on the upper stringer of thebelt 58 resembles a cigarette pack with one of its ends open. The manneri which the open ends of envelopes obtained by conversion of blanks 10in the channel 70 between the belts 28, 30 may be closed and sealed andprovided with labels is known in the art. Reference may be had to thecopending application Ser. No. 582,106, filed Sept. 26, 1966 by WillyRudszinat et al. and assigned to the same assignee.

The operation is as follows: The cells 3 of the supply conveyor 2accommodate blocks 4 in slightly compressed condition. The conveyor 2.

is advanced stepwise to place successive cells 3 into registry with theplunger 22. When the latter performs a working stroke, a complete block4 of twenty cigarettes is expelled from the registering cell 3 and thefront face of the block bears against the median portion of that sheet10 which is held ready in the guide 20. The sheets 10 are fed in amanner which forms no part of the present invention, i.e., the rotarysuction head 12 withdraws from the magazine 8 one sheet at a time andbrings it into the range of jaws on the gripper 16. These arms deliverthe sheet into the nip between the rolls 18 and the rolls advance thesheet along the guide 20 so that the sheet extends across the gapbetween the supply conveyor 2 and mouthpiece 26. The operation of thefeeder 6 is synchronized with operation of the plunger 22 in such a waythat a sheet 10 is located in the guide 20 when the plunger 22 performsa working stroke. When a cell 3 is empty or when the supply conveyor 2is at a standstill, a suitable detector (not shown) which scans thecells stops the feeder 6 in a fully automatic way to avoid contaminationof the packaging apparatus with unused sheets.

When the plunger 22 performs a working stroke and expels a block 4 fromthe registering cell 3, the thus displaced block automatically withdrawsa sheet 18- from the guide 20 and forces it through the mouthpiece 26.This mouthpiece converts the sheet 10 into a U-shaped blank 10'. Duringfurther advance with the plunger 22, the block 4 (with a U-shaped blank10' partially draped therearound) enters the channel 70 between thelower stringer of the upper friction belt 28 and the upper stringer ofthe lower friction belt 30 and is thereupon advanced with thesestringers at a speed which is somewhat less than the speed of theplunger 22. The suction chambers 36 produce currents of air whichattract the outer sides of the blank 10' against the adjoining surfacesof the respective stringers. The blank 10 moves with reference to thebelts 28, 30 while the corresponding block 4 continues to receive motionfrom the plunger 22. Shortly after the latter has completed its workingstroke, the blank 10' reaches the tucking units 44 which provide it withtwo tucks 60 (see FIG. 5). The folding units 46 bend the lower flaps 62(FIG. 5) upwardly and the applicators 49 of the pasters 48 applyadhesive to the undersides 64 of the upper flaps 66 (FIG. 5). Thefolding units 50 thereupon bend the upper flaps 66 downwardly and thepressing units 52 expel moisture from the adhesive coats. The pressingunits 52 impart the final shape to the tucks 60 and flaps 62, 66. Thesemifinished pack 4 then reaches the belt 58 and is advanced to thestation where the open end of the envelope 10" is tucked and folded toform the closed top of a finished pack. The finished pack is transportedpast a labelling station which applies a tax label over the closed top,and such packs are thereupon fed to a carton filling, bunching or othermachine. In many instances, the packs are first advanced through afurther packaging or Wrapping apparatus to be provided with transparentouter envelopes and tear strips.

The stringers fo the belts 28, 30 exert against the blocks 4 a certainpressure which is transmitted by the upper and lower panels of theblanks 4'. The tucking units 44 are so close to the conveyor 2 that thecigarettes of the blocks 4 are always confined from both lateral sidesto prevent collapse of the blocks.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a second packaging apparatus which is similarto the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and wherein many parts are denoted byanalogous reference numerals plus 100. For example, the numerals 102,106, and 128 respectively denote a supply conveyor for blocks 4, afeeder for sheets .10, a guide, and an endless friction belt of thetransporting conveyor. Instead of the suction chambers 36 of FIGS. 1 and2 backing plates 136 for the inner stringers of the friction belts 128,130 have been provided.

In addition, the packaging apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises amodified tucking unit including two lateral conveyors 133, each trainedaround rollers or pulleys 137, 139 and adjacent to the inlet of thechannel 170 between the friction belts 128, 130. The inner stringers ofthe lateral conveyors 133, 135 (namely, those stringers which are nearerto the belts 128, 130) converge in the direction of travel of the blocks4 and the planes of such inner stringers are substantially normal to theplanes of the lower and upper stringers of the belts 128, 130. Thepulleys or rollers 139 are driven by a motor or transmission 139a insuch a way that the speed of the belts 133, 135 equals the speed of thebelts 128, 130. The width of the belts 133, 135 is slightly less thanthe height of the channel 178 between the belts 128, 130 so that thebelts 133, 135 define with the belts 128, 130 horizontal gaps for theflaps 62 and 66. The inner stringers of the belts 133, 135 replace thetucking units 44 and cause the tucks 60 to lie flat against therespective lateral faces of the blocks 4.

The presssing units 52 of FIGS. 1 and 2 are replaced by modifiedpressing units each of which comprises an endless band 141 of metal andan electric heater 143 connected with a source of electrical energy byconductor 154, 156. The heaters 143 are located between the inner andouter stringers of the respective bands 141. The inner stringers of thebands 141 are normal to the inner stringers of the belts 128, 130. Thebands 141 are trained around idler rollers or pulleys 145 and drivenrollers or pulleys 147. The speed of the belts 141 is the same as thespeed of the belts 128, 130.

The operation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is very similar tothe operation of the previously described apparatus, with theaforementioned exception that the lateral belts 133, 135 replace thefixed tucking units 44 of FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition to forming thetucks '68, the belts 133, 135 also insure sharper definition of edgesalong the front faces of the blocks 4. The expulsion of moisture andironing or smoothing of flaps 62, 66 is effected by the endless bands141 which exchange heat with the heaters 143.

The output of my improved packaging apparatus is higher than the outputof a conventional packaging machine. This is attributed to the fact thatthe belts 28, 30 or 128, 130 can advance the blocks 4 and U-shapedblanks 10' at a very high speed without any danger of excessive oruncontrolled deformation of blocks and/or blanks. The belts 28, 30 or128, 130 need not be provided with motion transmitting projections,bars, plates, paddles or like auxiliaries which are utilized inpresently known packaging machines to transport blocks of cigarettesthrough the packaging station. Moreover, and when the transfer member 22or 122 fails to transfer a block 4 against the sheet 10 which is held inthe guide 20 or 120, the sheet will remain in the guide until after theflaw is eliminated so that the sheets cannot contaminate the packagingstation. The belts 28, 30 or 128, 130 grip the blanks 18' until afterthe open-ended envelopes 10" are completed and sealed so that thetucking, folding, adhesive-applying and sealing actions can be performedwhile the blocks 4 retain their desired shape and while the belts 28, 30or 128, 130 hold the major portions of the blanks against movement awayfrom each other. As stated before, the suction chambers 36 or thebacking plates 136 will provide supports for the inner stringers of thebelts 28, 30 and 128, 130 during engagement of such stringers with theblanks. The pressure exerted by the inner stringers of the belts 28,

30 and 128, 130 against the adjoining panels of the blanks 10 sufiicesto prevent relative movements of cigarettes in the respective blocks 4.It Was found that the apparatus of my invention will produceparallelepiped packs with a high degree of accuracy, i.e., each panel ofthe envelope 10" will be of truly rectangular outline and will bebounded by sharp edges extending along all four sides of the front faceand along all four edges between the top and lateral faces of a block 4.

The more important advantages of my method and apparatus can besummarized as follows: The transfer members 22 or 122 introduce theblocks 4 and U-shaped blanks 10 into the inlet of the channel 70 or 170between the belts 28, 30 or 128, 130 at a speed which exceeds the speedof these belts. Therefore, the front, top and bottom panels of U-shapedblanks 10' are caused to lie snugly against the respective sides of theblocks without the formation of folds, corrugations and likeunevennesses which could detract from the appearance of a finished pack.The inner stringers of the belts 28, 30 or 128, 130 preferably convergein a direction away from the inlet of the channel 70 or 170 so that theblanks 10 are properly held by friction during travel past theprocessing locations which accommodate the tucking, folding, sealing,heating and analogous units. The retention of blanks 10' against theadjacent surfaces of the belts 28, 30 or 128, 130 is assisted bysuction. The endless bands 133, 135 can fold such parts of blanks whichproject laterally beyond the front faces of the blocks 4 with a highdegree of accuracy and without causing any misalignment of blocksbecause their speed is the same as that of the belts 128, 130, i.e.,only slightly less than the speed of the transfer member 122 when thelatter performs a working stroke.

Many of the above outlined advantages are attributed to the fact thatthe blocks 4 and U-shaped blanks 10 are transported through thepackaging station or 105 by friction rather than by paddles, bars,plates or like entraining devices which are customary in many presentlyknown packaging machines and are likely to subject the cigarettes and/orthe blanks to excessive deformation.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of my contribution to the art.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

1. In a method of applying sheets around arrayed cigarettes or likeblock-shaped commodities wherein the commodities are moved seriatimagainst successive sheets to convert such sheets into substantiallyU-shaped blanks which are draped around the commodities prior to travelthrough a packaging station wherein the blanks advance past a series ofprocessing locations, the improvement which comprises the steps offrictionally engaging the blanks at two opposite sides of the respectivecommodities immediately following conversion of said sheets into suchblanks, continuously transporting the thus engaged blanks through thepackaging station independently of the spacing between successivecommodities which are delivered to said packaging station, andsubjecting successive moving blanks to deforming operations at saidprocessing locations independently of the spacing between successiveblanks which are transported through said packaging station.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein the blanks are engagedby a pair of surfaces travelling at the same speed.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 2, wherein the speed at which thecommodities move with the blanks into said packaging station exceeds thespeed of said surfaces.

4. In a method of applying sheets around arrayed cigarettes and likeblock-shaped commodities wherein the commodities are moved seriatimagainst successive sheets to convert such sheets into U-shaped blankswhich are draped around the commodities prior to travel through apackaging station wherein the blanks advance past a series of processinglocations, that improvement which comprises the steps of frictionallyengaging the blanks at two opposite sides of the respective commoditiesby a pair of surfaces travelling at the same speed, attracting theblanks to said surfaces by suction, and transporting the thus engagedblanks through said packaging station.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 2, wherein said engaging stepincludes compressing the commodities between said surfaces.

6. Apparatus for applying sheets around arrayed cigarettes or likeblock-shaped commodities, comprismg transporting conveyor means havingtwo substantially parallel stringers defining between themselves anelongated channel having an inlet; drive means for continuouslyadvancing said stringers in the same direction and at the same speed;transfer means for introducing a succession of commodities, each with asubstantially U-shaped sheet-like blank draped therearound andimmediately following the draping of said blanks around the respectivecommodities, through said inlet and into engagement with said stringersso that the stringers engage the blanks by friction at two oppositesides of the respective commodities and the thus engaged blanks arecontinuously transported by said stringers through said channelindependently of the spacing between successive commodities; and aplurality of processing means adjacent to said channel for at leastpartially converting successive blanks into envelopes while such blanksare continuously transported by said stringers and independently of thespacing between successive blanks in said channel.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said transfer means isarranged to introduce the commodities through said inlet at a speedwhich exceeds the speed of said stringers.

8. Apparatus for applying sheets around arrayed cigarettes or likeblock-shaped commodities, comprising transporting conveyor means havingtwo substantially parallel stringers consisting of foraminous materialand defining between themselves an elongated channel having an inlet;drive means for advancing said stringers in the same direction and atthe same speed; transfer means for introducing a succession ofcommodities, each with a U-shaped sheet-like blank draped therearound,through said inlet and into engagement with said stringers so that thestringers engage the blanks by friction at two opposite sides of therespective commodities; means for attracting the blanks to saidstringers by suction during travel of the respective commodities throughsaid channel; and a plurality of processing means adjacent to saidchannel for converting successive blanks into box-shaped envelopes.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said stringers consist ofsynthetic plastic material.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said stringers consist ofmetallic material.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said stringers consist offilamentary material.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising feeder means forsupplying sheets seriatim across the path of successive commoditiesupstream of said inlet, and means for converting the sheets intoU-shaped blanks is the course of travel of the respective commoditieswith said transfer means.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein portions of said U-shapedblanks project laterally beyond said channel and wherein said processingmeans comprise tucking means laterally adjacent to said channel forpartially folding said projecting portions of blanks against theadjoining sides of the respectvie commodities.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said tucking meanscomprises a pair of endless belts having inner stringers adjacent tosaid channel and drive means for advancing said inner stringers at thespeed of and in the same direction as said first mentioned stringers.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said stringers converge ina direction away from said inlet to subject the commodities toincreasing compression during travel through said channel.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said stringers form part oftwo endless friction belts.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said stringers aredisposed in two superimposed substantially horizontal planes and whereinsaid blanks are draped around the front, top and bottom sides of therespective commodities.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON, PrimaryExaminer 15 N. ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

